The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1887-09-01
THE PROCLAIMED LEAGUE.
Ar. Gladstone Aeves That the Proclamation Be
Suspended, and Speaks Warmly In Advocacy
AZ TIA Hoflnn.

Ar: Gladstone Aeves That the Prsclauativn Be
Suspended, and Speaks warmly In Advocacy
Of tho Notion.
London, Aug. 25.-Mr. Gladstone, in
the house OF commons this evening, moved
the following resolution
That humble address be presented to
the queen, representing that the viceroy of
Ireland has proclaimed the National lea
que dangerous association; that no in.
formation has been furnished to parlia.
ment to Justify the proclamation, by
virtue OF which her majesty's subjects are
to be rendered liable to be punished as Grim
mails, without q judicial inquiry into the
nature OF their acts, and that this house,
in the absence OF such information, prays
that said proclamation shall not continue
In force as TO the association named and
described therein.
Mr.. Gladstone said that the Irish viceroy,
in declaring that the league had melted to
violence, must have acted on information;
but where was that informant? The Irish
chiefs had right to demand to know the
grounds on which the government had
acted. II the facts were withheld the CD.
position must forthwith urge three propo.
sitions upon the house and the govern.
ment.
First-That 1t was slight, almost an
bntfage, on the dignity of parliament to
suppose that it was to discharge such an
important statutory duty without know.
ing the grounds.
Second-That it reduced to utter de.
struction and to an absurdity the main
contention that the government advanced
during the discussion Of the crimes act,
that the safeguard promised had proved q
farce.
Third-What could the house think OF
information that they must thus know
would not bear the light?
The government had substituted an ar.
bitrary will for regular legal action. This
principle was d most dangerous and dis.
graceful one in any country. and
land was still on trial. A great misior-
tune WAS that those who administer it
were not in sympathy with the feelings OF
the people. The proclamation of the
National league was near approach to g.
declaration Of war on the Irish people.
Nobody did anything for the tenants un-
til the league was founded. The govern
ment were passing Ireland very hard, and
it was evident that they inten led to work
government action absolutely excluded
the house from any thing except an absurd
and pcrfunctory opera ton in connection
with the great duty devolving upon it I'M
der the statute. Their cognizance of
this proclamation was reduced to a mere
farce. There would be no Judge, Jury or
resident magistrate, and no parliament to
control Ireland; there would be nothing
but the absolute, unmitigated, arbitrary
act OF the Irish executive. which was neces-
sarily partisan. He hoped that the Irish
would continue to bear the pressure. They
would not have to suffer long. 1t was Ger.
tain that they would not obey the law
through fear but from strong vivid,
buoyant hope which, even at the late cleo.
ton, was not damaged, and which now
was brighter and livelier. The Irish be-
lieved that the governments policy had
not the sanction of the British nation. The
governments foundation WIS slipping from
under them and their action in
showed that their strength. was fading:
Ireland, seeing this, trusted the EnglisI,
nation to fulflll her reasonable wishes and
was convinced that her expectations W oultl
not be disappointed:
BALroUR REPLIES.
Mr.. Balfour said:
Mr.. Gladstone would have been wiser
had he rested his argument on the allega.
ton that the house was ignorant OF the
grounds for the proclamation rather than
on defense OF the league. The govern
ment's difficulty was not the finding
of evidence to justify this proclamation,
but the selecting Of it from the enor-
nous mass of evidence they
possessed. When Mr. Gladsto one
proclaimed the land league he did 80 when
Parne'l was imprisoned and when parl,-
ment was not sitting and he afforded no
information to any one concerned. He
quoted at length from documents to show
that the league was guilty OF boycotting,
coercing and instigating attractions OF the
law.
Harcourt asked the speaker whether the
documents from which he quoted would
be submitted to the house. Balfour re.
fused to submit the document. Harcourt
was bound to table the official
documents cited: The speaker
replied that Mr.. Balfour was not bound to
table confidential documents, hut the case
was different with official papers, which
the house might want to verify.
Hnrcourt-After the speakers ruling l
expect that the papers will be tabled.
Balfour-I shall do nothing of the kind.
My documents are OF three sorts-public
and confidential papers and my own notes.
II the people realized tho true nature and
less OF creed or party, support the govern.
ment.
Mr.. Harrington (Nationalist) comment.
ed upon the worthlessness of documents
which the government refused to table.
He said it would be the duty OF the league
to continue to work and not to shrink
from the consequences. Buchanan (Liber-
al-Unionist) said: The governments action
was ill-timed. Balfour had not given a
fair account of the doings OF the league,
which had been largely instrumental in
having rents reduced in Ireland. The En-.
glish people desired that the Irish Difficult.
ty be treated amicably. The government
were pursuing the contrary course.
T. w. Russell protested against the CO.
ercion of the league, but said that, having
supported the crimes bill, he could not
| withhold from the government the powers
they demanded. Mr.. Eradlaugh (RaGical)
said:
Boycotting was not a peculiarly Irish in.
stitution, but was invented in England to
exterminate the Irish. The country would
Judge the conduct Of the government, which
obtained powers ostensibly to suppress
crime, but really to suppress a political
organization which they dreaded.
On motion OF Trevely an the debate was
adjourned. The News says that Chamber
lain, Ceilings and half dozen other Union.
lists will vote in support OF Mr.. Gladstone &
motion.
THAT EVANSVILLE PAIR.
Rev. David Seymour and Hrs. ]. A. Henry, the
ElancrS. Annrehon In Nav York- Thev ava